Friday, December 16, 2011

A Wonderful Life

Spock nibbling

For most this time of year is a time of packing up work, going on a holiday or a well deserved rest, the kids are on holiday, we start thinking of Christmas presents and relaxing, or cooking for a huge amount of people for Christmas lunch –well, not so relaxing maybe- and most of all contemplating what went on in 2011. For some though it is not the holiday season at all. For all of you stubborn, creative, work a holics, farmers, small businesses, it never stops. And sometimes you think to yourself why did I ever think that working with me as my own boss would ever be better than a 9 to 5 job working for somebody else?I have been asked questions tonight and other days as well as to why I do what I do and is running a fibre farm viable or worth while money wise, and I guess that when you really do the math, well, it just plain isn’t, but there is more. You do what you do because you just cannot live NOT doing it, it is not so much as a job but it is a passion. It is the same reason why there are painters, writers, composers who do what they do. And although not everybody can be a Chopin, a Steinbeck or a Rembrandt, even they knew one thing: they would not be “them”without what they do passionately, without compromise. There are easier ways to make a living probably. But sometimes you just have to admit that Life is not meant to be easy and that you have to make choices, even the hard ones. And most of the times its those hard decisions and the choices you make, that will define you as a human being, no matter what you do. The media or rather certain products want to make our life “easier” by signing up so you do not even have to make decisions aas to what to make for dinner or eat for lunch or breakfast, because in their view, our lives will be much easier if all those decisions will be made for us without hassles, but maybe , just maybe, Life is much better with a bit of chaos, decision making and well, let’s face it: surprises and risks and following a dream or your passion.

So, you want to be an actor? A painter, a musician a fibre artist a crafts person a designer? Will it be “viable”, will you make money? In all truth? No, not likely, but the most important question you have to ask yourself is not “will I make money”. The most important question you have to ask yourself is “Will the passion I have to do this, carry me to do wonderful things, live my dream and make me feel proud of what I am as a human being, no matter what?, without compromise or the need to compare yourself to anyone else, with hard work and with love?” My Answer? A full hearted “yes!” I could not imagine a life without fibre, painting, teaching or designing and caring for beautiful fluffy creatures. It is a wonderful life.

Well, now that I got that off my chest..lol..I just have to showcase the beautiful, quirky, amazingly artistic work of Siobhan Colley of SoulCrafting, who has made the most gorgeous two Feltoonies ™ for me: a Dracula Bunny and a Frankenbunny. The artistry of her felting is sublime ! and these lil creatures put a BIG smile on my face everytime ! Any requests? I am sure that Siobhan will be more than happy to enable : I have heard her Etsy shop will be having a grand 2012 opening in January so stay tuned ! I know I will, because I think I might have to fight over a certain Ms Frankenbunnies’Bride..ahem ahem …lol here are some links: http://www.etsy.com/shop/SoulCrafting and do “like”her facebook page as well for some special stuff and inside information ;)

Here are some photos:

Frankenbunny close up

Dracula bunny with his harem of Batts

and for all of you bunny fans out there: some new photos of the babies and Bear ;) also a new video will be uploaded onto YouTube! soon of Fifis babies feeding: sooooooo cute !!!

just nibbling

such a cutie!

Bear in a contemplative mood

This week the IxCHeL clubs are still open for sign up and this time I started a new club as well : the MINI SKEIN CLUB ! For all you hexapuffers and sock blankie fans out there. All the info for all the clubs you find below. Please let me know if you have any questions: always happy to help.

For this weeks fibre offer are two new products: hand dyed Sock blanks with a free pattern of anti second sock syndrome socks AND Shawl blanks: Loooooooooong repeat fabulous 4 ply weight sock yarn in Bamboo bunny silk and nylon. Which is Soooooooo nice to work with. For all you spinners out there: BFL Bunny Kid mohair tops! Drool, Snaffle and Score ! have a great holiday season !Enjoy !

Bunny Foster Programmethe IxCHeL Bunny Foster Sponsoring Programme or BunFoSP for short , is still open and there are still bunnies waiting for a wonderful foster parent. For more information on the foster program please visit my blog of 2 weeks ago or email me for information! There are still bunnies waiting for a foster mum or dad.

For photos of all our bunnies and our little fibre farm please visit my flickr photostream: www.flickr.com/photos/ixchelbunny and go to the set Ixchel farm or angora bunnies for extra close up photos of the hand dyed felts, yarns and fibres !

How To Order:You can email me on ixchel at rabbit dot com dot au or message me on facebook or ravelry where I am Ixchelbunny. I will email you right back with all your order details and payment methods. Any questions? Please don’t hesitate to ask! Always happy to enable.

a selection of my “stress-a-gones”/ hexapuffs fiilled with lavender and the December miniskein selection of last week

For all of us hexapuffers, sock blankie addicts and stress-a-gone knitters out there I have set up a monthly selection of mini skeins.I already started it up in December with a wide range of very smooshy yarns but in 2012 the fun is really going to start FULL ON.Every month I will be offering a monthly exclusive IxCHeL mini skein selection for everybody. In that monthly selection I will give everybody who orders 10 miniskeins that are hand dyed and or hand spun not available anywhere else and awesome to add to your mini skein projects. Once the Monthly mini skein collecction is announced anybody can order as many as there are available and they will receive a nice colourful pack of ten miniskeins for $23+post.However, for all the Mini skein fans out there that would like to commit to just hop in and out, I would like to offer something evenn more special:For those committing to the Mini Skein Club there is a membership of three months and they will receive the monthly selection of miniskeins AND a surprise skein not available to oters PLUS -yes there is more!- 4 more extra mini skeins! that is 15 miniskeins for the price of 10 ! Now how can you say no to that??Here are all the details for the sign ups for the IxCHeL Mini Skein Club:Here is the nitty gritty:For Australia : single serve $69+$18 postage (parcel post)double serve $130 (=even a better deal!) +$24For USA + Canada: single serve AU$69+AU$35 (Airmail)double serve $130 (even a better deal!) +AU$49For UK,Europe, rest of the world:Single serve AU$69+AU$38 (airmail)Double serve $130 (even a better deal!)+AU$57For Asia: Single serve AU$69+AU$28 (airmail)Double serve $130 (even a better deal!)+AU$42Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the IxCHeL Mini Skein Club is December 31st.Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me your details :))

the IxCHeL Fibre Club

fibre club december is all ready to be packed and sent out end of the week ! Yeah ! and the new sign ups for 2012 are now open as well ! Here are all the details:Sign up for the IxCHeL Fibre club january-february-march 2012 is now OPEN!The subscription is for a period of three months and you will receive one special hand dyed top/roving per month to the value of AU$20 , and as all of you past members know you get tops that are usually around $24 ! so it is a great deal!All the tops will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of Ixchel Fibre Club !Price to join the Ixchel Fibre Club #12 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months is AU$60 + postage (parcel post or airmail). AND double and triple serves are available !!! So in short:For Australia :single serve $60+$18 postage (parcel post)double serve $120+$24triple serve $160+$33For USA + Canada:single serve AU$60+AU$35 (Airmail)double serve AU$120+AU$60For UK,Europe, rest of the world:Single serve AU$60+AU$38 (airmail)Double serve AU$120+AU$58For Asia:Single serve AU$60+AU$28 (airmail)Double serve AU$120+AU$39If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #12 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for fibre club #12 is December 31st! And the first installment is going to be shipped out end of January:)Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me your details :))

the IxCHeL Sock-it-to-me-yarn Club

THE SOCK YARN CLUB SIGN UPS ARE NOW OPEN ;-)What is the deal? hmmm it is sooo good and fun and sockaliscious you just will HAVE to join :)Here are the details:Every month for three months (january-february-march 2012) you will receive:enough hand dyed luscious yummy yarn to make a pair of socks; (the hand dyed yarn will be exclusive for the Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB and will range from a sockweight yarn or a 3ply or a 4 ply);Every month a new sock pattern, tips and instructions ! Now is that GOOD or is that GOOD ??! :)I will even offer a double serve for those of you who like their socks extra long :)Here is the nitty gritty:For Australia : single serve $78+$18 postage (parcel post)double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +$24For USA + Canada: single serve AU$78+AU$35 (Airmail)double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$49For UK,Europe, rest of the world:Single serve AU$78+AU$38 (airmail)Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$57For Asia: Single serve AU$78+AU$28 (airmail)Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$42Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB! is December 31st.Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me your details :))By the way: you don’t HAVE to knit socks if you don’t want to.. the hand dyed yarn is amazingly nice for scarves, cowls, beanies and even tops ! Anything goes :)

the IxCHeL Funky Bunny Batt Club sign up for the funky bunny batt club #12 (january-february-march 2012) is now officially OPEN :)Here are all the details and just pm me when you have any questions or want to be part of the funky bunny batt club Movement ;-) Welcome to the blingy dark side ;-DThe subscription is for a period of three months and you will receive one special hand dyed funky bunny batt per month to the value of AU$32 or more . The batts will range in weight from 100grams to 150grams with luxury fibres like camel , angora, cashmere, silk, yak, llama even MINK this time !All the batts will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of Ixchel funky bunny Club ! Every month you will receive a HUGE luxury funky bunny batt !Sign up now and you will receive an Ixchel Hand dyed , super luxurious funky bunny batt for the last three months of 2011 !Price to join the Ixchel Funky bunny #12 :)) for three months is :For Australia : $96+$18 postage (parcel post)For USA + Canada: AU$96+AU$35 (Airmail)For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$96+AU$38 (airmail)For Asia: AU$96+AU$28 (airmail)If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FUNKY BUNNY Batt CLUB#12 now.Numbers are strictly limited !Deadline for signing up for the funky bunny batt club #12 is December 31st! And the first installment is going to be shipped out end of January 2012:)Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me

Dates to Remember:Bunny Spin in at the Ixchel Fibre Farm (11am-5pm)

There will be BUNNY SPIN INS again in December !! Yeah! And the December ones are all in the spirit of Xmas. Please let me know beforehand if you are coming and how many are in your p arty so I can let Santa Bunny know

Our electricity provider SP Ausnet had the ultimate wisdom to let us know that our power will be off the whole day on Thursday the 22nd of December. That is the bunny spin in day !!!! So, I thought it best to let you all know that the Bunny Spin in of Thursday the 22nd of December is unfortunately cancelled …I know it is sad but ther will be plenty of bunny spin ins again next year !!!

Saturday December 17th, 11am-5pmBring a plate to share your wheel or spindle, knitting or crochet, yourself and a smile and have a fun day out amongst bunnies and friends ! Please contact me to secure a spot ! Bunny food like cabbage, bok choi or broccoli is always welcome: the bunnies will cuddle you more for it ;D

The Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show 2012Friday 20th-Sunday 22nd of JulyI will be in the flowershed again this year with heaps of new fluffy stuff and in full bunny regalia J Join me in I the fun BUT before hand the woolcraft schedule is published ! The IxCHeL Fibre farm is actually sponsoring a catergory this year in the handspun yarn classes in Natural Animal Fibres class 23 and 24 !!! We feel it is very important to get the word and other than merino fibre out there. Angora fibre and cashmere and mohair and alpaca and baby camel is amazing to spin, felt, weave, embellish and crochet with! Start planning and working on your entry for the show and get your art work out there for everybody tot admire and win prizes !! yeah ! What could be better eh?Check out the website here for more details : www.sheepshow.com and for questions relating to the woolcraft schedule and ore contact Dot Vallence at Dotv5 at optusnet dot com dot au

Contact me on Ravelry where I am Ixchelbunny, message me on facebook or email me on Ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au or ixchel@rabbit.com.au

Ixchel is an Australian Fibre Farm in the Yarra Valley in Victoria, breeding their own fluffy animals pesticide free and organic. Charly McCafferty (Ixchel Bunny) does all the spinning, dyeing, knitting and weaving and loving every second of it: Angora Rabbit, Cashmere, Mohair, Merino, Alpaca, Camel or even Yak.Paul McCafferty is constantly juggling work on the fibre farm and is the brain behind making all the animal housing and organising the farm harmoneously.
Email:Ixchel@rabbit.com.au

About Me

Email: ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au
.
Born in the Netherlands, part Dutch and Native American, brought up in Europe, Canada ,the States and Latin America and now living in Australia, I see myself as a world citizen enjoying every moment that this life is giving me. Having such a diverse background I feel very priviledged on how it makes my art (be it paintings or wearable art) so universal and yet so special.